Schizophrenia: A Very Short Introduction considers a common mental disorder that has a devastating effect on sufferers and their families. While patients typically hear voices in their heads and hold bizarre beliefs, the schizophrenic patient presented to the public in sensational press reports and lurid films bears little resemblance to the reality of the illness. This VSI describes what schizophrenia is really like, how the illness progresses, and the treatments that have been applied. It summarizes the most up-to-date knowledge about the biological bases of schizophrenia and attempts to convey what it is like to suffer from it and what this disorder reveals about the relationship between mind and brain.